Summer-style heat, humidity on its way

ANDREW TILGHMAN, Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

Published 5:30 am, Sunday, May 23, 2004

Under a searing midday sun, the animals at the Houston Zoo were taking it easy on Sunday; an African lion resting under a shade tree, a bear taking a dip in a man-made moat and sea lions basking on the water's edge.

"They like to take a siesta in the middle of the day," said Melanie Powell, the zoo's sea lion keeper.

After a string of days in the upper 80s, temperatures today were expected to reach 90 for the first time this year, signaling residents to brace for several months of relentless heat and humidity.

The summer-style heat is arriving a somewhat late this year, compared to the first 90-degree day last year that fell on May 5, according to the National Weather Service.

Footage of I-10 closed and the trafficGodofredo Vasquez, Houston Chronicle

North Texas storms continueFox4

AT&T Names First Cities to Get 5G NetworkWibbitz

Bridging police & young minority studentsFox 26 Houston

The 'Black Panther' effectFox 26 Houston

100 Boys March against violenceFox 26 Houston

Isiah Factor Uncensored celebrates crawfish seasonFox 26 Houston

NASA engineer approved for proton therapyFox 26 Houston

10 p.m. Feb. 20 FOXRAD ForecastFox 26 Houston

While occasional clouds and a breeze may soften the heat, highs in the lower nineties are forecast for the entire week through Friday. Temperatures are expected to gradually rise through the week, reaching the mid-90s by the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Parents of small children were out in force Sunday, saying outdoor activities will soon be limited to early morning and evening, as the oppressive heat sends them running for cover in climate-controlled homes.

"In the summer, you get tired of watching the same movies and finding new indoor activities," said Beau Mixon, who was relaxing in a neighborhood park at noon with his 2-year-old daughter, Sara. "This is much more enjoyable for both of us."

Related Stories

Waverly Peaks, a 31-year-old doctor in Houston, said she expects only a few more weeks of jogging outdoors before the humidity forces her to exercise inside. "We have a treadmill at home and that's what we use when it gets super hot," Peaks said.

At the Hermann Park Golf Course, Ali Shabbir said he expects to scale back his once-a-week golf regiment in the coming weeks, not only due to weather, but also the mosquitoes that proliferate this time of year.

"If every time you hit the ball, you are surrounded by mosquitoes, that's no fun," Shabbir said.

Of the city's 31 public pools, 23 are scheduled to open for the Memorial Day weekend, a month earlier than originally planned. The other eight will open June 5 and close Aug. 15.

Meanwhile, private pool builders were having their busiest weeks of the year.

"Right now is when people stop thinking about skiing and start thinking about swimming," said Loy Easter, an owner with Aloha Swimming Pools in Houston.

When the temperature spikes, many Houston residents and businesses tend to crank up the air conditioning, pushing indoor temperature even lower than usual, said Floyd Sommers, an Iowa resident who has visited Houston regularly in recent years to receive medical treatments.

"We come down here in the middle of August, we have to bring a jacket so can enjoy our dinner or go to the movies," Sommers said.